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(No Model.) I

G. P. HER'NDON & J. P. HOLLINGSWORTH. SHOE.

No. 467,006. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

I ll" 1 a h m F W665" I" F a 6 z a l 0w! I I 57 seaming the same.

UNTTED STATES PATENT 'GEEICE.

GEORGE P. IIERNDON AND JOHN P. IlOLLINGSlVORTH, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA; SAID llOLLlNGSlVORTl-I ASSIGNOR TO SAID HERNDON.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,006, dated January 12, 1892.

Application filed July 6, 1891.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE P. HERNDON and JOHN P. HOLLINGSWORTH, citizens of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes and Uppers; and" we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shoes and uppers therefor of that class in which the said upper is formed in a single piece; and it has for its objects, among others, to obviatethe necessity of so much seaming, to dispense with a rear heel-seam, to save leather, and to save time and labor in cutting the upper and in lVe cut the upper so as to require but one short seam and that upon the side of the shoe. lVe provide the blank which forms the upper with an opening upon each side, which, when the upper is embodied in the shoe, are seamed up to bring the same upon the sides of the shoe, dispensing with a seam at the heel and giving better shape to the shoe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willhereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a view of the blank forming the upper. Fig. 2 is a side view of-a portion of a shoe constructed in accordance with our invention before the side seam at the opening is formed. Fig. 3 is a like View with the opening seamed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, looking inward toward the rear of the shoe, showing the openings upon each side seamed up.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts Serial No. 398,494. (No model.)

throughout the several views in which they occur.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates the upper, which is cut from the skin or leather in the form shown in Fig. l, with substantially parallel sides foragreater portion of its length, being rounded at one end, as seen at a, and at the other endformed substantially at its center with a projecting point I), the approaches to which from the sides are upon curved lines, as seen in Fig. 1. Near the rounded end there is formed a slit 0, which extends from one side of the blank inward substantially transversely for about one-half the width of the blank and thence at right angles thereto, or substantially longitudinally of the blank, as seen at d, the slit being practically upon curved lines, as seen in Fig. 1. At the point where this slit begins there is formed a slight niche 6, formed by rounding the leather at this point, which receives the point 1) when the blank is folded, thus giving the vamp the proper shape.

Upon one or both sides of the line a a where the blank is to be folded we form an opening f, which has one straight edge and one concavo-convex edge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These openings are formed by cutting out a portion of the leather, in contradistinction to simply slitting the leather. the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the straight edges or sides are arranged to the rear, so that when the blank is folded and the openings f seamed up the seams will be curved, with their convex sides toward the front of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 3, to give the same a better shape and fit. \Vhen two openings are formed, they should not be so large as when only one is employed. It will be readily seen that no rear heel-seam is required, and that there must necessarily be a great saving in time and labor in cutting the blank and in seaming the same, as there is but the short seam along the line of the slit 0, and'that is upon the side of the shoe. lVe are enabled to provide a better-fitting shoe with less trouble and expense, one that will be easier to the foot When we employ and not liable to rip. The blanks will be tions being seamed up, substantially as deformed of diiferent sizes and of any desired scribed.

material. In testimony whereof we affix our signa- What We claim as new istnres in presence of two witnesses. 5 A shoe provided with an upper formed of a single piece without a heel-seam and having Q in the blank upon each side near the heel a cut-away portion or opening that is straight Witnesses:

on its rear edge and conoavo-oonvex on its LUOIEN H. IIERNDON, 1o forward edge, said openings or cutaway por- V. II. JOHNSON. 

